More than Half of the State’s Charitable Giving Organizations Plan to Increase Grantmaking in 2018

MILWAUKEE (November 15, 2018) — Wisconsinites continue to invest heavily in the cultural and economic vitality of their communities through philanthropy, and the momentum appears to be gaining as the state heads into the giving season.

In a new survey from Wisconsin Philanthropy Network, more than 78 percent of survey respondents said they are looking to increase partnerships and collaborations, and at least 56 percent said they are planning to increase grantmaking. Both of these numbers represent year-over-year increases from 2017-2018.

The 2018 Wisconsin Gives Report provides readers with an in-depth look at the state’s philanthropic sector. The biennial report compiles information from numerous national studies and sources, and is supported by data collected through WPN’s survey of Wisconsin grantmakers.

The survey gathers feedback on topics such as the type and level of support awards; projections for the upcoming year; and funders’ perceptions of the overall health of Wisconsin’s nonprofit groups. As a result of the survey feedback, the report also provides philanthropic best practices, trends and benchmarks.

“The goal of the Wisconsin Gives Report is to provide our statewide network of philanthropic partners, as well as other stakeholders, usable data and in-depth information on national and regional trends, while deepening the understanding of Wisconsin philanthropy,” said Tony Shields, WPN President and CEO. “As one of the most charitable states in the nation, it is an honor to represent these organizations, capture some of the ‘why’ behind philanthropy, and benchmark the generosity overall of our state’s residents and corporate citizens.”

The report’s findings reflect national philanthropy trends which have attributed increases in charitable giving to the current political climate, a strengthening economy, and a rise in “everyday philanthropists,” especially among Millennials.

Key findings in 2018 include:

Total charitable giving in the United states rose 5.2% between 2016 and 2017, to $410.02 billion (est.)

Fifty-six percent of WPN survey respondents plan on increasing their grantmaking in 2018.

Wisconsin Philanthropy Network is a nonprofit professional membership association of philanthropic organizations. It is Wisconsin’s only statewide association for private foundations (family, independent, and corporate), corporate giving programs, community foundations, donor-advised funds, charitable trusts, university and healthcare foundations, and individual philanthropists who together represent over $7 billion in assets and invest over $600 million annually to improve the quality of life for Wisconsin residents. For more information, visit http://wiphilanthropy.org.

Mentioned in This Press Release

Leave a Reply

You must be an Urban Milwaukee member to leave a comment. Membership, which includes a host of perks, including an ad-free website, tickets to marquee events like Summerfest, the Wisconsin State Fair and the Florentine Opera, a better photo browser and access to members-only, behind-the-scenes tours, starts at $9/month. Learn more.